Official Pest Report

Official Pest Reports are provided by National Plant Protection Organizations within the NAPPO region. These Pest Reports are intended to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention's Standard on Pest Reporting, endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.

Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly) - APHIS removes quarantine in the Rio Hondo area of Cameron and Willacy Counties, Texas

Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly) - APHIS removes quarantine in the Rio Hondo area of Cameron and Willacy Counties, Texas

Contact:
John Stewart, National Fruit Fly Policy Manager, at 919-855-7426

Report:

Effective August 23, 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in the Rio Hondo area of Cameron and Willacy Counties, Texas.

On April 22, 2016, APHIS established a Mexfly quarantine in Cameron and Willacy Counties after confirming one mated female Mexfly and one larva in Rio Hondo, Texas. The quarantine restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area to prevent the spread of the Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas citrus industry to eradicate the transient Mexfly population using approved eradication protocols.

APHIS removed the quarantine area after three lifecycles passed without finding additional Mexflies in this area. The following designated website contains a description of the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

Under IPPC Standards, Anastrepha ludens is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.


 

Posted Date: Oct. 14, 2016, 9 a.m.